LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE) – Victims of the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire are still struggling to get federal assistance. The destructive blaze burned more than 300,000 acres in 2022 devastating homes and businesses. Residents said the federal government has failed to respond or have stalled claims for recovery assistance.
A law firm representing many of those residents said they aren’t afraid to take FEMA to court. “We continue to work within the system that FEMA has created. We continue to to try to meet with them regularly and get that information. If they continue to not follow through, we’ve had several lawsuits already and we have no problem bringing it back in front of the judge and say, hey we had this agreement, they have the law, they are not following it judge, we need to make it happen,” said Jacob Payne, Singleton Schriber Senior Counsel.
The deadline to submit claims for federal assistance is November 14.